Olympic taekwondo star Sarah Stevenson MBE took part in this weekend’s Viking boat race in Peel.
Stevenson, 30, was visiting the island to hold a seminar over the weekend with local club Manx Taekwondo.
She won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the first ever British medallist in the sport, and was World Champion in 2001 and 2011.
At the opening ceremony of London 2012 she was chosen to take the competitor’s oath.
Manx Taekwondo club instructor Rod Nielsen said: ‘It’s amazing to get someone of Sarah’s standard over to our club for the weekend.
‘All our kids are going to learn so much from her. It’s brilliant, and an extra little bonus that she’s agreed to compete in our rowing team while she’s here too.’
Stevenson started her career by becoming Junior World Champion in 1998 and two years later was third in the Olympic qualifying tournament, sealing a place in Beijing in the women’s 67kg class.
These achievements brought her to the attention of Jackie Chan, who was so impressed with her, he decided to sponsor her whilst he was in the UK filming the movie Shanghai Noon.
She now runs her own development programme, Sarah Stevenson Inspires, which helps coach taekwondo athletes between the ages of 11 and 19.
